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Post by Briarwind on Nov 15, 2010 13:50:32 GMT -5
J'tan certainly seemed to have regained his good cheer. That was interesting. Either he was a very high-spirited man, he was a consummate actor, he was a fool, or he was trying very hard to make the best of the situation. His smile seemed easy enough, so she doubted it was the latter, and he had noted her anger and taken swift measures to assuage it, so she supposed he wasn't a fool. Was he truly that high-spirited, though, or was he that good an actor? That would be the difficult one to tell. Focusing her attention back to the topic at hand, she banished such thoughts to stew in the back of her mind for later review. It wasn't likely she'd ever need to know. Odds were, this whole "stand for impression" business would turn out to be a fool's errand. Even if it didn't, was it likely she'd ever see this rider, specifically, in more than passing, again? She couldn't help doubting it. Still, there was no harm in being prepared, just in case. Nevertheless, she had said she'd cooperate and she meant it. "If I'm to be at the Weyr for days, I'll need to retrieve a few changes of clothing and some personal effects," she mused aloud, examining the dragon's hide pensively for any other dry patches upon which to continue her ministrations. Selecting a new one, she set to it. She'd developed a distinct fondness for the bronze, largely for what seemed to be a delightful sense of humor. Besides, the scratching gave her something on which to focus her attention. The dragon's quip about M'tak brought a wry smile to her face, and she patted him affectionately. "Somehow, I imagine his dragon would disagree," she advised the bronze, a wry bit of amusement tracing through her voice.
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agriasnesme
Plot Assistant
Quoth the server, 404.
Posts: 31
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Post by agriasnesme on Nov 17, 2010 16:39:00 GMT -5
J'tan's mind whirled quietly as he studied the girl in front of him, smiling easily as he patted Lecarth's flank, moving to rifle through his saddlebags.
"I can certainly give you the time to fetch your effects, if you wish, and when I get back to the Weyr, I'll have your quarters made up for you. You'll likely be sharing for a while, and if you Impress, you'll be stationed in the barracks. In any case..."
With a minor expression of triumph, he pulled out a dagger, handing it quickly to Akantral.
"That's my favorite dagger; I had it commissioned after I was selected for Bivium. It'll get you into the Weyr without any questions asked, everyone in my Wing knows it's mine."
With that, he leaned against Lecarth, idly patting the bronze expanse of neck right next to him as he waited for Akantral's response.
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Post by Briarwind on Nov 17, 2010 17:14:48 GMT -5
Akantral turned at J'tan's curious pause after he said 'in any case', canting her head curiously. Curiosity was swiftly displaced by awe as he offered her the blade, eyes gone wide. Gingerly, she lifted the blade as if it were glass, turning it over slowly in her hands and giving it a meticulous examination. The weight was a bit more than she'd have chosen, but she was smaller than the bronzerider, so that was to be expected. That weight was flawlessly distributed, however, more than making up for it being heavier than she favoured, and the blade was visibly sharp. It appeared, at least to her (admittedly inexpert) eyes, to be an extraordinarily well-crafted weapon. Most assuredly, it was a valuable piece, to say the least. The small collection of hunting knives she'd accumulated for skinning game and other, similar uses were no comparison to this. This blade was a work of art next to them. "This is ... Are you sure you want to entrust this to me?" she asked, looking up at him. "You don't know me. You have no way of knowing I won't take it and disappear, or sell it, or abuse it. A dagger this valuable ... that's not a small trust." Thoughts of hatchings and touchings, of collecting her possessions and making her way to the Weyr, were completely driven from the girl's mind by the startling craftsmanship of the dagger, and by the implied trust J'tan was (perhaps unwisely) showing in a complete stranger. Not, of course, that she could have brought herself to do a damage to such a weapon if she'd wanted to, anyhow. She spent too much time around crafters and knew too well what went into the making of such an extraordinary work to ever desecrate one by treating it unfairly. That was hardly the point, however. How would J'tan know that?
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agriasnesme
Plot Assistant
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Posts: 31
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Post by agriasnesme on Nov 19, 2010 21:56:56 GMT -5
J'tan just shrugged quietly as he watched her taking in the expertly-crafted dagger. It was his personal weapon, something R'elm had told him to commission as he was a representative of Eastern Weyr, a ranking rider of the new Bivium. According to R'elm, he could not be without such a weapon.
He smiled softly as he leaned against Lecarth, reaching into his pack and pulling out a breadroll he'd nicked from the kitchens just after leaving the Weyrbowl.
"Think of it as a token of showing how serious I am. Not to mention it'll get you into the Weyr without any questions asked. It'd also be quite hard for you to disappear on one of Bivium's Weyrleaders, even with the Holds bearing their grudges. But that isn't why I'm letting you hold that dagger for a while."
He let that sink in for a moment before looking up at the sun, whistling quietly to himself as he saw how late it was getting.
"I'm giving you that dagger to show you a little of the responsibility I have to uphold for my Weyr. You take care of that dagger, and when it is returned to me, you might know how serious I am about my promise to take care of you however I can, dragon or no."
I think he likes you, Akantral. He wouldn't let me hold his dagger.[/b] Lecarth snickered softly in their minds, making J'tan wonder just how cold an eternity between would feel....[/color]
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Post by Briarwind on Nov 20, 2010 20:00:00 GMT -5
Akantral curled her hands around the blade's hilt tightly, laying her knuckles against her lower lip, and pondered J'tan wordlessly for a long moment, peering pensively at him through the glass of her spectacles. Lecarth's words rolled through her mind, giving her much to think about. She didn't bother pointing out to the dragon that he had no hands and therefore couldn't hold the knife. That wasn't the point in the slightest, and she knew it. She had no doubt, either, that the dragon spoke the purest truth. She'd never heard of dragons lying - or, truth told, having the wit to lie - so she didn't doubt his meaning. No, the ponderous question was not 'if' he liked her. The ponderous question was 'why'. Really, she suspected "like" was not the best word, but rather, "feel an obligation towards", but all the same, the question remained. Why in the world did he feel compelled to play the gallant for a girl he didn't even know? He owed her nothing. He had no connection to her. What was the purpose of this? What was he trying to gain? What advantage did he perceive in this? Finally, after a long moment, she wrapped heavy fabric around the blade with a swift motion and stowed it into her bag, closing it securely before looking back up at him. "It will be returned to you in the same condition you gave it to me," she promised sincerely. For a moment, she paused, clearly thoughtful, before adding, "I don't ask to be taken care of, by you or anyone."
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agriasnesme
Plot Assistant
Quoth the server, 404.
Posts: 31
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Post by agriasnesme on Nov 28, 2010 16:13:30 GMT -5
J'tan quietly looked over his gear, pondering her statement for a moment after she'd stowed his dagger away. He closed his eyes and sighed tightly, secure in the knowledge that everything was as it should be. With a sharp whistle, he called his two mischief-makers to him, both chirping and, rather lazily, leaving their perches on Akantral to fly over and curl against him. He smiled fondly at the little blighters before turning back to the girl and slinging himself up on Lecarth's saddle, settling himself down firmly.
"Lass...all of Pern says that these days to the Weyrs. What shall the Harpers sing when the Thread does fall again, as it has in the past, and we actually listen to those cold words?"
He looked up once more at the position of the sun and nodded quietly to himself.
"I needs must fly. Shall I take you to the Weyr, the Collegium, or a Hold? Or perhaps you'd rather I left you here?"
He wouldn't mind taking you to our weyr, you know. He likes you.[/b] "....Lecarth....please shut up." Awwww. But it's so much fun, and it's true.[/color]
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Post by Briarwind on Nov 28, 2010 21:10:12 GMT -5
Akantral paused, gaze flicking between Lecarth and J'tan through their exchange, and, for just a moment, her mind seemed to slow to a stop, stalling in its tracks before abruptly sputtering forward to catch up with herself. Dragonmen called their rooms "weyrs", as well. She knew that. Lecarth thought J'tan wanted to ... and J'tan ... oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, dear. "I have a few things to take care of before I can come to the Weyr," she replied, jerking her mind around to the topic at hand. "I'd ask to go to Delant or the Collegium, but... well..." Pausing, she pondered Lecarth, looking for a tactful way to explain. After a moment, she gave up and opted for bluntness. "The Mastercoggler has no tolerance for dragons or dragonmen. He thinks very, very little of them - and he holds considerable sway in Delant Hold." To Lecarth, she added, "I think you're lovely, but he ... won't, and I don't think either of you really needs that sort of headache."
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agriasnesme
Plot Assistant
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Posts: 31
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Post by agriasnesme on Nov 29, 2010 18:22:13 GMT -5
J'tan nodded slowly and quietly, idly digging the heel of his boot into Lecarth's side, earning himself a rumbling laugh and a feeling of vague discomfort from the bronze.
He knew it was the dragon's equivalent of 'it was worth it', and it irked him slightly. It also rather irked him that his dragon was trying to play matchmaker, even if the bronze didn't understand the concept of lying. That only made the whole thing worse!
"That's quite alright. If you're sure you'll be safe, Akantral, then I'll leave you here. Lecarth and I really must be off before my 'second starts acting like a wherryhen over my absence."
He smirked softly at that particular thought and nodded his acceptance of Akantral's decision before awaiting her response levelly and calmly.
Your boot tickles.[/b] Maybe not so calmly, then.[/color]
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Post by Briarwind on Nov 30, 2010 0:41:27 GMT -5
"Oh, I come this way often enough," Akantral offered by way of reassurance. "I'll be fine - and I'll be by the Weyr within ... mmm ... shouldn't take more than three days. Two, if I push. You'll see me again, soon, I'm sure." Pausing, she gave Lecarth's side one final scratch and an affectionate pat before glancing thoughtfully up at his rider. She wasn't quite sure what to make of J'tan, though she had to admit that she respected him more for accepting her terms - enough that she almost forgave him for his rudeness earlier. Still, this whole business was decidedly odd, and as the bearer of uncanny news, she blamed most of it on him. She just couldn't decide if it was a good blame or a bad one. Ah, but this was hardly the time to ponder such matters. He had to be on his way, and she should be on hers, if she was going to be as good as her word and make it to the Weyr in three days. The island wasn't massive, but the Weyr was almost all the way across it, and she was traveling on foot. Taking several steps back, she waved at the pair, then whipped around and abruptly took off at a sprint, racing full-tilt back toward the Collegium. It was going to be an interesting few days.
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